​Improved Reading Requires Libraries in HISD

By Debbie Hall
 
I just sent out 14 emails to all the School Board candidates to update them and also Juliet Stipeche. We have also sent it to the current Board members.
 
I have a new a new mantra. If we are concerned about reading, we need to be talking about libraries.
 
Dear School Board Candidates, current School Board members, and Judith Stipeche:
 
I just put together some more statistics on HISD libraries that you might find useful. If we are concerned about reading, we need to be talking about libraries. You should find two attachments that contain this data.
 
(1) Library Staff Comparisons by Board Member Districts Fall 2019 - This table compares staffing numbers by area district. This allows you to compare your area (4) with the other board districts.
 
(2)  2019 High Schools Staffing - College readiness is one of the district's most important goals. The current staffing in high school libraries puts meeting this goal in question. Almost half of HISD’s high schools do not offer library services on campus. Just this week, we learned that Austin High School's library was converted to a classroom. Sadly, there are many other high schools that are failing to support students’ learning by providing access to a library on their campus.  We ask you to question the current trend in establishing a Learning Commons and how it is being implemented in some HISD schools. Replacing a library with a Learning Commons is a loss, not a gain, when access to services and materials is lost in the process. The idea of providing a collaborative space has always been a part of a solid library program. This is not a new idea, but it is a new name (Learning Commons). Several of the newer schools have incorporated the Learning Commons idea into their design. Schools like DeBakey and Kinder HSPVA provide both traditional library services and collaborative spaces to the benefit of their students. However, other newly rebuilt schools like Wisdom, HSLECJ, and Lamar have eliminated access to programming, materials, and instruction via a campus library.
 
The numbers in these documents are based on staffing data available at the beginning of the current school year. It is our sincere hope that some of these vacancies have been filled but based on the evidence of the last few years we believe that relatively few of the schools will elect to fill their library positions. Library services will continue to be available for some, but not for all, until the school board and the administration recognizes the negative effects stemming from not setting a standard for library service across the district.